Prevalence of Subclinical Mastitis in Lactating Cows and Efficacy of Intramammary Infusion Therapy
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Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2014). 12 (1): 55-61 ISSN: 1729-7893 (Print), 2308-0922 (Online) PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN LACTATING COWS AND EFFICACY OF INTRAMAMMARY INFUSION THERAPY T. K. Tripura1, S. C. Sarker2, S. K. Roy3, M. S. Parvin, R. R. Sarker, A. K. M. A. Rahman and M. T. Islam* Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in lactating cows of Mymensingh and Lakshmipur sadar upazilas and to evaluate the efficacy of intramammary infusion in subclinical mastitis affected cows. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 78 smallholder dairy farms using a pretested questionnaire to collect data from June 2011 to May 2012. Milk samples from 139 lactating cows were screened for SCM by California Mastitis Test. A total of 72 cows was found positive for SCM and treated with the Neomastipra-JR5® intramammary infusion tube (Hipra, Spain). The overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating cows was 51.8%, of which 51.4% at Mymensingh sadar and 52.2% at Lakshmipur sadar upazilas. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis was significantly increased with age and parity of cows. In left hind quarter, the prevalence of subclinical mastitis was significantly higher (33.1%) than those of other quarters. The efficacy of intramammary infusion with Neomastipra-JR5® in lactating cows was 66.7%. Key words: Sub-clinical mastitis, lactating cows, California Mastitis Test, intramammary infusion INTRODUCTION Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the mammary gland, characterized by the changes in the physical characteristics of the udder or milk (Nazifi et al., 2011). The subclinical mastitis (SCM) is more serious and is responsible for much greater loss to the dairy industry in Bangladesh (Kader et al., 2003). Subclinical mastitis is 15 to 40 times more prevalent than the clinical form, is of long duration and difficult to detect ((Almaw et al., 2008; George et al., 2008; Sarker et al., 2013). In Bangladesh, the prevalence of SCM is recorded from 20 to 44% at cow level based on California Mastitis Test (CMT) (Rahman et al., 2009; Islam et al., 2010; Rabbani and Samad, 2010). The efficacy of antibiotic therapy for intramammary infections (IMIs) early in lactation is scarce and few, with the ones carried out reporting mixed results. The response to therapy with intramammary (IMM) cephapirin sodium on CMT positive quarters in lactating cows on cure rates and somatic cell count (Rosenberg et al., 2002). It was determined that by the 4-week post-calving evaluation, quarters treated with cephapirin sodium had significantly increased cure rates, and SCC were significantly reduced. Wallace et al. (2004) also randomly assigning cows with CMT-positive quarters to receive either IMM cephapirin sodium or no treatment, found that there was no difference in cure rates for IMM antibiotic-treated quarters for major pathogens compared to the untreated cows. However, there was an advantage for cure rates using antibiotics against environmental streptococcal infections. Quarters with streptococci infections were 3.5 times more likely to cure if treated with cephapirin sodium. A field study has revealed that IMM antibiotic therapy was beneficial for Gram-positive organisms and coagulase-negative staphylococci, but ineffective for Gram-negative organism (Roberson et al., 2004), because Gram-negative bacteria tend to have a more complex layering in their cell wall structure (Beveridge, 1999). In a clinical trial in three Californian dairies, bacteriologic cure assessed at 4 and 20 days after treatment with amoxicillin, cephapirin, or oxytocin (no antibacterial) did not differ for mild clinical mastitis cases caused by any pathogen, although antibacterial treatment resulted in better clinical cure rates for cases caused by pathogens other than streptococci and coliforms (Guterbock et al., 1993). Proper milking procedure and hygiene may be the easiest and most economic way to control IMI (Hutton et al., 1990). Present Address: 1Veterinary Surgeon, District Veterinary Hospital, Lakshmipur, Bangladesh 2Veterinary Surgeon, Upazila Livestock Office, Kaharol, Dinajpur, Bangladesh 3Veterinary Surgeon, Upazila Livestock Office, Patgram, Lalmonirhat *Corresponding e-mail address: [email protected] Copyright 2014 Bangladesh Society for Veterinary Medicine All rights reserved 0289/2014 T. K. Tripura and others Teat and udder skin should be healthy before milking and free of sores, wounds, or chapping where S. aureus could colonize the teat end and surrounding skin (Fox and Norell, 1994). Cleanliness at milking time is also important. Minimal use of water and premilking teat antisepsis may reduce new IMI. Additionally, the advent of post milking teat antisepsis has been important in contributing to decreasing contagious IMI. When teats were dipped after milking and cows were treated with penicillin-dihydrostreptomycin at dry-off, IMI caused by major mastitis pathogens decreased by 75% and 45%, respectively (Natzke et al., 1972; Oliver and Mitchell, 1984). Post-dipping alone has been estimated to decrease the rate of new IMI by 50% (Nickerson and Boddie, 1997). Antimicrobials are the most important tool in SCM control programs in cows. But there are not properly known by dairy farmers to infuse of intramammary antibiotics in SCM affected lactating cows. However, the reports on the efficacy of intramammary infusion in lactating cows are very limited (Siddiquee et al., 2013) and the information on the prevalence of SCM in the area is lacking or very less (Rahman et al., 2009; Rabbani and Samad, 2010; Rahman et al., 2010; Islam et al., 2011; Sarker et al., 2013). Therefore, the objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating cows using (CMT) and to evaluate the efficacy of intramammary infusion against SCM in lactating dairy cows. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study sites and duration The study was carried out on 78 smallholder dairy farms (at least two lactating cows must be present in the farm) from 6 villages of Mymensingh Sadar upazila (n = 42) and 9 villages of Lakshmipur Sadar upazila (n = 36). These farms were registered under Seed Bull Production Project of the Department of Genetics & Animal Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. A total of 139 lactating cows, 72 from Mymensingh sadar and 67 from Lakshmipur sadar upazilas were included in this study. The cows were aged between 5 to 12 years, at different lactation stages, parity and level of milk production. The study work was conducted during the period from June 2011 to May 2012. Study design and data collection A cross-sectional study was carried out by using a pretested questionnaire to collect cow and farm level data. The animal level variables were age, pregnancy, parity, milk yield, lactation stage, stimulation of milking and history of previous clinical mastitis. Data were collected by interviewing the owners as well as examining the cows in the farm. Cows with signs of clinical mastitis were excluded from the study. Collection of milk samples Milk samples were collected after antiseptic wash of teats with 70% ethanol and dried off by tissue paper. Two streams of milk were discarded and then 5 ml of milk were taken aseptically into labeled sterilized test tubes with rubber cap at the time of morning milking. Detection of subclinical mastitis Immediately after collection, the milk samples were subjected to CMT by using Leucocytest® (Synbiotics Corporation-2, France). A shallow half paddle having four cups was used. About 2 ml milk was taken into the cup and 2 ml reagent was added. Mixing was accomplished by gentle circular motion of the paddle in a horizontal plane for few seconds. The reaction developed almost immediately with milk containing a high concentration of somatic cells. The peak of reaction was obtained within 10 seconds. The results of CMT reaction were read immediately as per manufacturer’s recommendation and were scored depending on the amount and thickness of gel formed. Intramammary infusion of subclinical mastitis (SCM) affected cows All the SCM affected cows (n = 72) received intramammary infusion with Neomastipra-JR5® (Benzylpnicillin procaine 100000 IU; Dihydrostreptomycin sulphate 62.4 mg; Neomycin sulphate 36 mg; Polymyxin B sulphate 50000 IU; Sulphadimidine sodium 250 mg; Sulphathiazole 250 mg; Hydrocortisone 20 mg, Hipra, Spain) at a dose of one syringe per affected quarter per cow twice daily after each morning and evening milking for 3 days. 56 Prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating cows Prior to infusion, the affected quarter was thoroughly milked out by hand and the teat end was cleaned using a cotton swab soaked with 70% alcohol. After 15 days of last dosing, milk samples were collected and tested for CMT. Statistical analysis Data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2003 and transferred to STATA®, version 2012 (Stata Corporation, Texas, USA) for analysis. The overall prevalence of SCM and its distribution in different categories of variables and their exact binomial 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Simple bivariable associations of independent variables with SCM were investigated by χ2 test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Prevalence of subclinical mastitis The overall prevalence of SCM in lactating cows was 51.8%. The prevalence of SCM in Mymensingh sadar and Lakshmipur sadar was 51.4% and 52.2%, respectively and there was no significant